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Lv W, Xie H, Wu S, Dong J, Jia Y, Ying H. Identification of key metabolism-related genes and pathways in spontaneous preterm birth: combining bioinformatic analysis and machine learning. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1440436. [PMID: 39229380 PMCID: PMC11368757 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1440436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) is a global disease that is a leading cause of death in neonates and children younger than 5 years of age. However, the etiology of sPTB remains poorly understood. Recent evidence has shown a strong association between metabolic disorders and sPTB. To determine the metabolic alterations in sPTB patients, we used various bioinformatics methods to analyze the abnormal changes in metabolic pathways in the preterm placenta via existing datasets. Methods In this study, we integrated two datasets (GSE203507 and GSE174415) from the NCBI GEO database for the following analysis. We utilized the "Deseq2" R package and WGCNA for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analysis; the identified DEGs were subsequently compared with metabolism-related genes. To identify the altered metabolism-related pathways and hub genes in sPTB patients, we performed multiple functional enrichment analysis and applied three machine learning algorithms, LASSO, SVM-RFE, and RF, with the hub genes that were verified by immunohistochemistry. Additionally, we conducted single-sample gene set enrichment analysis to assess immune infiltration in the placenta. Results We identified 228 sPTB-related DEGs that were enriched in pathways such as arachidonic acid and glutathione metabolism. A total of 3 metabolism-related hub genes, namely, ANPEP, CKMT1B, and PLA2G4A, were identified and validated in external datasets and experiments. A nomogram model was developed and evaluated with 3 hub genes; the model could reliably distinguish sPTB patients and term labor patients with an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.75 for both the training and validation sets. Immune infiltration analysis revealed immune dysregulation in sPTB patients. Conclusion Three potential hub genes that influence the occurrence of sPTB through shadow participation in placental metabolism were identified; these results provide a new perspective for the development and targeting of treatments for sPTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqi Lv
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Han Xie
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Shengyu Wu
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiaqi Dong
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanhui Jia
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, sChina
| | - Hao Ying
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, China
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai, sChina
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Paquette A, Ahuna K, Hwang YM, Pearl J, Liao H, Shannon P, Kadam L, Lapehn S, Bucher M, Roper R, Funk C, MacDonald J, Bammler T, Baloni P, Brockway H, Mason WA, Bush N, Lewinn KZ, Karr CJ, Stamatoyannopoulos J, Muglia LJ, Jones H, Sadovsky Y, Myatt L, Sathyanarayana S, Price ND. A genome scale transcriptional regulatory model of the human placenta. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadf3411. [PMID: 38941464 PMCID: PMC11212735 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf3411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
Gene regulation is essential to placental function and fetal development. We built a genome-scale transcriptional regulatory network (TRN) of the human placenta using digital genomic footprinting and transcriptomic data. We integrated 475 transcriptomes and 12 DNase hypersensitivity datasets from placental samples to globally and quantitatively map transcription factor (TF)-target gene interactions. In an independent dataset, the TRN model predicted target gene expression with an out-of-sample R2 greater than 0.25 for 73% of target genes. We performed siRNA knockdowns of four TFs and achieved concordance between the predicted gene targets in our TRN and differences in expression of knockdowns with an accuracy of >0.7 for three of the four TFs. Our final model contained 113,158 interactions across 391 TFs and 7712 target genes and is publicly available. We identified 29 TFs which were significantly enriched as regulators for genes previously associated with preterm birth, and eight of these TFs were decreased in preterm placentas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Paquette
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kylia Ahuna
- Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | | | - Hanna Liao
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Leena Kadam
- Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
| | | | - Matthew Bucher
- Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Ryan Roper
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Cory Funk
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Heather Brockway
- Department of Physiology and Aging, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - W. Alex Mason
- University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Nicole Bush
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Kaja Z. Lewinn
- University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Louis J. Muglia
- The Burroughs Wellcome Fund, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
- Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | | | - Yoel Sadovsky
- Magee Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Leslie Myatt
- Oregon Health and Sciences University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nathan D. Price
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
- Thorne HealthTech, New York City, NY, USA
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Ackerman WE, Buhimschi CS, Brown TL, Zhao G, Summerfield TL, Buhimschi IA. Transcriptomics-Based Subphenotyping of the Human Placenta Enabled by Weighted Correlation Network Analysis in Early-Onset Preeclampsia With and Without Fetal Growth Restriction. Hypertension 2023; 80:1363-1374. [PMID: 36987911 PMCID: PMC10192030 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.122.20807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Placental disorders contribute to pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction (FGR), but debate regarding their specific pathobiology persists. Our objective was to apply transcriptomics with weighted gene correlation network analysis to further clarify the placental dysfunction in these conditions. METHODS We performed RNA sequencing with weighted gene correlation network analysis using human placental samples (n=30), separated into villous tissue and decidua basalis, and clinically grouped as follows: (1) early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE)+FGR (n=7); (2) normotensive, nonanomalous preterm FGR (n=5); (2) EOPE without FGR (n=8); (4) spontaneous idiopathic preterm birth (n=5) matched for gestational age; and (5) uncomplicated term births (n=5). Our data was compared with RNA sequencing data sets from public databases (GSE114691, GSE148241, and PRJEB30656; n=130 samples). RESULTS We identified 14 correlated gene modules in our specimens, of which most were significantly correlated with birthweight and maternal blood pressure. Of the 3 network modules consistently predictive of EOPE±FGR across data sets, we prioritized a coexpression gene group enriched for hypoxia-response and metabolic pathways for further investigation. Cluster analysis based on transcripts from this module and the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis metabolic pathway consistently distinguished a subset of EOPE±FGR samples with an expression signature suggesting modified tissue bioenergetics. We demonstrated that the expression ratios of LDHA/LDHB and PDK1/GOT1 could be used as surrogate indices for the larger panels of genes in identifying this subgroup. CONCLUSIONS We provide novel evidence for a molecular subphenotype consistent with a glycolytic metabolic shift that occurs more frequently but not universally in placental specimens of EOPE±FGR.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E. Ackerman
- University of Illinois College of Medicine - Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | | | - Thomas L. Brown
- Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
| | - Guomao Zhao
- University of Illinois College of Medicine - Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | | | - Irina A. Buhimschi
- University of Illinois College of Medicine - Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Akram KM, Kulkarni NS, Brook A, Wyles MD, Anumba DOC. Transcriptomic analysis of the human placenta reveals trophoblast dysfunction and augmented Wnt signalling associated with spontaneous preterm birth. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:987740. [DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.987740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of death in under-five children. Worldwide, annually, over 15 million babies are born preterm and 1 million of them die. The triggers and mechanisms of spontaneous PTB remain largely unknown. Most current therapies are ineffective and there is a paucity of reliable predictive biomarkers. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of spontaneous PTB is crucial for developing better diagnostics and therapeutics. To address this need, we conducted RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis, qRT-PCR and ELISA on fresh placental villous tissue from 20 spontaneous preterm and 20 spontaneous term deliveries, to identify genes and signalling pathways involved in the pathogenesis of PTB. Our differential gene expression, gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed several dysregulated genes (including OCLN, OPTN, KRT7, WNT7A, RSPO4, BAMBI, NFATC4, SLC6A13, SLC6A17, SLC26A8 and KLF8) associated with altered trophoblast functions. We identified dysregulated Wnt, oxytocin and cellular senescence signalling pathways in preterm placentas, where augmented Wnt signalling could play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of PTB due to its diverse biological functions. We also reported two novel targets (ITPR2 and MYLK2) in the oxytocin signalling pathways for further study. Through bioinformatics analysis on DEGs, we identified four key miRNAs, - miR-524-5p, miR-520d-5p, miR-15a-5p and miR-424-5p - which were significantly downregulated in preterm placentas. These miRNAs may have regulatory roles in the aberrant gene expressions that we have observed in preterm placentas. We provide fresh molecular insight into the pathogenesis of spontaneous PTB which may drive further studies to develop new predictive biomarkers and therapeutics.
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Liu Z, Yang J, Li H, Zhong Z, Huang J, Fu J, Zhao H, Liu X, Jiang S. Identifying Candidate Genes for Short Gestation Length Trait in Chinese Qingping Pigs by Whole-Genome Resequencing and RNA Sequencing. Front Genet 2022; 13:857705. [PMID: 35664295 PMCID: PMC9159352 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.857705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gestation length is a complex polygenic trait that affects pig fetal development. The Qingping (QP) pig, a Chinese native black pig breed, is characterized by short gestation length. However, the genetic architecture of short gestation length is still not clear. The present study aimed to explore the genetic architecture of short gestation length in QP pigs. In this study, selective sweep analyses were performed to detect selective sweep signatures for short gestation length traits between 100 QP pigs and 219 pigs from 15 other breeds. In addition, differentially expressed genes for the short gestation length between QP pigs and Large White pigs were detected by RNA sequencing. Comparing candidate genes from these methods with known genes for preterm birth in the database, we obtained 111 candidate genes that were known preterm birth genes. Prioritizing other candidate genes, 839 novel prioritized candidate genes were found to have significant functional similarity to preterm birth genes. In particular, we highlighted EGFR, which was the most prioritized novel candidate relative to preterm birth genes. Experimental validations in placental and porcine trophectoderm cells suggest that EGFR is highly expressed in the QP pigs with short gestation length and could regulate the NF-κΒ pathway and downstream expression of PTGS2. These findings comprehensively identified candidate genes for short gestation length trait at the genomic and transcriptomic levels. These candidate genes provide an important new resource for further investigation and genetic improvement of gestation length.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zezhang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Yang
- College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Hong Li
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuxia Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Fu
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hucheng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaolei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- Shenzhen Institute of Nutrition and Health, Huazhong Agricultural University Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
- Shenzhen Branch, Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Genome Analysis Laboratory of the Ministry of Agriculture, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaolei Liu, ; Siwen Jiang,
| | - Siwen Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Agricultural Ministry and Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
- The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaolei Liu, ; Siwen Jiang,
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True H, Blanton M, Sureshchandra S, Messaoudi I. Monocytes and macrophages in pregnancy: The good, the bad, and the ugly. Immunol Rev 2022; 308:77-92. [PMID: 35451089 DOI: 10.1111/imr.13080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
A successful human pregnancy requires precisely timed adaptations by the maternal immune system to support fetal growth while simultaneously protecting mother and fetus against microbial challenges. The first trimester of pregnancy is characterized by a robust increase in innate immune activity that promotes successful implantation of the blastocyst and placental development. Moreover, early pregnancy is also a state of increased vulnerability to vertically transmitted pathogens notably, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Zika virus (ZIKV), SARS-CoV-2, and Listeria monocytogenes. As gestation progresses, the second trimester is marked by the establishment of an immunosuppressive environment that promotes fetal tolerance and growth while preventing preterm birth, spontaneous abortion, and other gestational complications. Finally, the period leading up to labor and parturition is characterized by the reinstatement of an inflammatory milieu triggering childbirth. These dynamic waves of carefully orchestrated changes have been dubbed the "immune clock of pregnancy." Monocytes in maternal circulation and tissue-resident macrophages at the maternal-fetal interface play a critical role in this delicate balance. This review will summarize the current data describing the longitudinal changes in the phenotype and function of monocyte and macrophage populations in healthy and complicated pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather True
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Madison Blanton
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | | | - Ilhem Messaoudi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
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Sobhani NC, Mernoff R, Abraha M, Okorie CN, Marquez-Magana L, Gaw SL, Robinson JF. Integrated analysis of transcriptomic datasets to identify placental biomarkers of spontaneous preterm birth. Placenta 2022; 122:66-73. [DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2022.03.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Human Placental Transcriptome Reveals Critical Alterations in Inflammation and Energy Metabolism with Fetal Sex Differences in Spontaneous Preterm Birth. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22157899. [PMID: 34360662 PMCID: PMC8347496 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22157899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
A well-functioning placenta is crucial for normal gestation and regulates the nutrient, gas, and waste exchanges between the maternal and fetal circulations and is an important endocrine organ producing hormones that regulate both the maternal and fetal physiologies during pregnancy. Placental insufficiency is implicated in spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). We proposed that deficits in the capacity of the placenta to maintain bioenergetic and metabolic stability during pregnancy may ultimately result in SPTB. To explore our hypothesis, we performed a RNA-seq study in male and female placentas from women with SPTB (<36 weeks gestation) compared to normal pregnancies (≥38 weeks gestation) to assess the alterations in the gene expression profiles. We focused exclusively on Black women (cases and controls), who are at the highest risk of SPTB. Six hundred and seventy differentially expressed genes were identified in male SPTB placentas. Among them, 313 and 357 transcripts were increased and decreased, respectively. In contrast, only 61 differentially expressed genes were identified in female SPTB placenta. The ingenuity pathway analysis showed alterations in the genes and canonical pathways critical for regulating inflammation, oxidative stress, detoxification, mitochondrial function, energy metabolism, and the extracellular matrix. Many upstream regulators and master regulators important for nutrient-sensing and metabolism were also altered in SPTB placentas, including the PI3K complex, TGFB1/SMADs, SMARCA4, TP63, CDKN2A, BRCA1, and NFAT. The transcriptome was integrated with published human placental metabolome to assess the interactions of altered genes and metabolites. Collectively, significant and biologically relevant alterations in the transcriptome were identified in SPTB placentas with fetal sex disparities. Altered energy metabolism, mitochondrial function, inflammation, and detoxification may underly the mechanisms of placental dysfunction in SPTB.
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Evolutionary Changes in Pathways and Networks of Genes Expressed in the Brains of Humans and Macaques. J Mol Neurosci 2021; 71:1825-1837. [PMID: 34191269 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-021-01874-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
As the key organ that separates humans from nonhuman primates, the brain has continuously evolved to adapt to environmental and climatic changes. Although humans share most genetic, molecular, and cellular features with other primates such as macaques, there are significant differences in the structure and function of the brain between humans and these species. Thus, exploring the differences between the brains of human and nonhuman primates in the context of evolution will provide insights into the development, functionality, and diseases of the human central nervous system (CNS). Since the genes involved in many aspects of the human brain are under common pressures of natural selection, their evolutionary features can be analyzed collectively at the pathway level. In this study, the molecular mechanisms underlying human brain capabilities were explored by comparing the evolution features of pathways enriched in genes expressed in the human brain and the macaque brain. We identified 31 pathways with differential evolutionary properties, including those related to neurological diseases, signal transduction, immunological response, and metabolic processes. By analyzing genes differentially expressed in brain regions or development stages between humans and macaques, 9 and 4 pathways with differential evolutionary properties were detected, respectively. We further performed crosstalk analysis on the pathways to obtain an intuitive correlation between the pathways, which is helpful in understanding the mechanisms of interaction between pathways. Our results provide on a comprehensive view of the evolutionary pathways of the human CNS and can serve as a reference for the study of human brain development.
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Rosenkrantz JL, Gaffney JE, Roberts VHJ, Carbone L, Chavez SL. Transcriptomic analysis of primate placentas and novel rhesus trophoblast cell lines informs investigations of human placentation. BMC Biol 2021; 19:127. [PMID: 34154587 PMCID: PMC8218487 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01056-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proper placentation, including trophoblast differentiation and function, is essential for the health and well-being of both the mother and baby throughout pregnancy. Placental abnormalities that occur during the early stages of development are thought to contribute to preeclampsia and other placenta-related pregnancy complications. However, relatively little is known about these stages in humans due to obvious ethical and technical limitations. Rhesus macaques are considered an ideal surrogate for studying human placentation, but the unclear translatability of known human placental markers and lack of accessible rhesus trophoblast cell lines can impede the use of this animal model. RESULTS Here, we performed a cross-species transcriptomic comparison of human and rhesus placenta and determined that while the majority of human placental marker genes (HPGs) were similarly expressed, 952 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the two species. Functional enrichment analysis of the 447 human-upregulated DEGs, including ADAM12, ERVW-1, KISS1, LGALS13, PAPPA2, PGF, and SIGLEC6, revealed over-representation of genes implicated in preeclampsia and other pregnancy disorders. Additionally, to enable in vitro functional studies of early placentation, we generated and thoroughly characterized two highly pure first trimester telomerase (TERT) immortalized rhesus trophoblast cell lines (iRP-D26 and iRP-D28A) that retained crucial features of isolated primary trophoblasts. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our findings help elucidate the molecular translatability between human and rhesus placenta and reveal notable expression differences in several HPGs and genes implicated in pregnancy complications that should be considered when using the rhesus animal model to study normal and pathological human placentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimi L. Rosenkrantz
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
| | - Jessica E. Gaffney
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
| | - Victoria H. J. Roberts
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
| | - Lucia Carbone
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Division of Genetics, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
- Department of Medicine, Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Department of Medical Informatics and Clinical Epidemiology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239 USA
| | - Shawn L. Chavez
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 S.W. Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Division of Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, Oregon National Primate Research Center, 505 NW 185th Avenue, Beaverton, OR 97006 USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR 97239 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine, Portland, OR 97239 USA
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Marinić M, Mika K, Chigurupati S, Lynch VJ. Evolutionary transcriptomics implicates HAND2 in the origins of implantation and regulation of gestation length. eLife 2021; 10:61257. [PMID: 33522483 PMCID: PMC7943190 DOI: 10.7554/elife.61257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The developmental origins and evolutionary histories of cell types, tissues, and organs contribute to the ways in which their dysfunction produces disease. In mammals, the nature, development and evolution of maternal-fetal interactions likely influence diseases of pregnancy. Here we show genes that evolved expression at the maternal-fetal interface in Eutherian mammals play essential roles in the evolution of pregnancy and are associated with immunological disorders and preterm birth. Among these genes is HAND2, a transcription factor that suppresses estrogen signaling, a Eutherian innovation allowing blastocyst implantation. We found dynamic HAND2 expression in the decidua throughout the menstrual cycle and pregnancy, gradually decreasing to a low at term. HAND2 regulates a distinct set of genes in endometrial stromal fibroblasts including IL15, a cytokine also exhibiting dynamic expression throughout the menstrual cycle and gestation, promoting migration of natural killer cells and extravillous cytotrophoblasts. We demonstrate that HAND2 promoter loops to an enhancer containing SNPs implicated in birth weight and gestation length regulation. Collectively, these data connect HAND2 expression at the maternal-fetal interface with evolution of implantation and gestational regulation, and preterm birth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirna Marinić
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | - Katelyn Mika
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Chicago, Chicago, United States
| | | | - Vincent J Lynch
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, United States
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12
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Elshenawy S, Pinney SE, Stuart T, Doulias PT, Zura G, Parry S, Elovitz MA, Bennett MJ, Bansal A, Strauss JF, Ischiropoulos H, Simmons RA. The Metabolomic Signature of the Placenta in Spontaneous Preterm Birth. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21031043. [PMID: 32033212 PMCID: PMC7037776 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21031043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The placenta is metabolically active and supports the growth of the fetus. We hypothesize that deficits in the capacity of the placenta to maintain bioenergetic and metabolic stability during pregnancy may result in spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB). To explore this hypothesis, we performed a nested cased control study of metabolomic signatures in placentas from women with SPTB (<36 weeks gestation) compared to normal pregnancies (≥38 weeks gestation). To control for the effects of gestational age on placenta metabolism, we also studied a subset of metabolites in non-laboring preterm and term Rhesus monkeys. Comprehensive quantification of metabolites demonstrated a significant elevation in the levels of amino acids, prostaglandins, sphingolipids, lysolipids, and acylcarnitines in SPTB placenta compared to term placenta. Additional quantification of placental acylcarnitines by tandem mass spectrometry confirmed the significant elevation in SPTB human, with no significant differences between midgestation and term placenta in Rhesus macaque. Fatty acid oxidation as measured by the flux of 3H-palmitate in SPTB placenta was lower than term. Collectively, significant and biologically relevant alterations in the placenta metabolome were identified in SPTB placenta. Altered acylcarnitine levels and fatty acid oxidation suggest that disruption in normal substrate metabolism is associated with SPTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Summer Elshenawy
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.E.); (T.S.); (P.-T.D.); (G.Z.); (H.I.)
| | - Sara E. Pinney
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (M.A.E.); (A.B.)
| | - Tami Stuart
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.E.); (T.S.); (P.-T.D.); (G.Z.); (H.I.)
| | - Paschalis-Thomas Doulias
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.E.); (T.S.); (P.-T.D.); (G.Z.); (H.I.)
| | - Gabriella Zura
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.E.); (T.S.); (P.-T.D.); (G.Z.); (H.I.)
| | - Samuel Parry
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (M.A.E.); (A.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michal A. Elovitz
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (M.A.E.); (A.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael J. Bennett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA;
| | - Amita Bansal
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (M.A.E.); (A.B.)
| | - Jerome F. Strauss
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (M.A.E.); (A.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Harry Ischiropoulos
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.E.); (T.S.); (P.-T.D.); (G.Z.); (H.I.)
| | - Rebecca A. Simmons
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.E.); (T.S.); (P.-T.D.); (G.Z.); (H.I.)
- Center for Research on Reproduction and Women’s Health, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (S.P.); (M.A.E.); (A.B.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Correspondence:
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Ackerman WE, Buhimschi IA, Brubaker D, Maxwell S, Rood KM, Chance MR, Jing H, Mesiano S, Buhimschi CS. Integrated microRNA and mRNA network analysis of the human myometrial transcriptome in the transition from quiescence to labor. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:834-845. [PMID: 29447339 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted integrated transcriptomics network analyses of miRNA and mRNA interactions in human myometrium to identify novel molecular candidates potentially involved in human parturition. Myometrial biopsies were collected from women undergoing primary Cesarean deliveries in well-characterized clinical scenarios: (1) spontaneous term labor (TL, n = 5); (2) term nonlabor (TNL, n = 5); (3) spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) with histologic chorioamnionitis (PTB-HCA, n = 5); and (4) indicated PTB nonlabor (PTB-NL, n = 5). RNAs were profiled using RNA sequencing, and miRNA-target interaction networks were mined for key discriminatory subnetworks. Forty miRNAs differed between TL and TNL myometrium, while seven miRNAs differed between PTB-HCA vs. PTB-NL specimens; six of these were cross-validated using quantitative PCR. Based on the combined sequencing data, unsupervised clustering revealed two nonoverlapping cohorts that differed primarily by absence or presence of uterine quiescence, rather than gestational age or original clinical cohort. The intersection of differentially expressed miRNAs and their targets predicted 22 subnetworks with enriched representation of miR-146b-5p, miR-223-3p, and miR-150-5p among miRNAs, and of myocyte enhancer factor-2C (MEF2C) among mRNAs. Of four known MEF2 transcription factors, decreased MEF2A and MEF2C expression in women with uterine nonquiescence was observed in the sequencing data, and validated in a second cohort by quantitative PCR. Immunohistochemistry localized MEF2A and MEF2C to myometrial smooth muscle cells and confirmed decreased abundance with labor. Collectively, these results suggest altered MEF2 expression may represent a previously unrecognized process through which miRNAs contribute to the phenotypic switch from quiescence to labor in human myometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Ackerman
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Irina A Buhimschi
- Center for Perinatal Research, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Douglas Brubaker
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Sean Maxwell
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Kara M Rood
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Mark R Chance
- Center for Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Hongwu Jing
- Department of Chemistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Sam Mesiano
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Catalin S Buhimschi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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14
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Pereyra S, Sosa C, Bertoni B, Sapiro R. Transcriptomic analysis of fetal membranes reveals pathways involved in preterm birth. BMC Med Genomics 2019; 12:53. [PMID: 30935390 PMCID: PMC6444860 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-019-0498-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Preterm birth (PTB), defined as infant delivery before 37 weeks of completed gestation, results from the interaction of both genetic and environmental components and constitutes a complex multifactorial syndrome. Transcriptome analysis of PTB has proven challenging because of the multiple causes of PTB and the numerous maternal and fetal gestational tissues that must interact to facilitate parturition. The transcriptome of the chorioamnion membranes at the site of rupture in PTB and term fetuses may reflect the molecular pathways of preterm labor. Methods In this work, chorioamnion membranes from severe preterm and term fetuses were analyzed using RNA sequencing. Functional annotations and pathway analysis of differentially expressed genes were performed with the GAGE and GOSeq packages. A subset of differentially expressed genes in PTB was validated in a larger cohort using qRT-PCR and by comparing our results with genes and pathways previously reported in the literature. Results A total of 270 genes were differentially expressed (DE): 252 were upregulated and 18 were down-regulated in severe preterm births relative to term births. Inflammatory and immunological pathways were upregulated in PTB. Both types of pathways were previously suggested to lead to PTB. Pathways that were not previously reported in PTB, such as the hemopoietic pathway, appeared upregulated in preterm membranes. A group of 18 downregulated genes discriminated between term and severe preterm cases. These genes potentially characterize a severe preterm transcriptome pattern and therefore are candidate genes for understanding the syndrome. Some of the downregulated genes are involved in the nervous system, morphogenesis (WNT1, DLX5, PAPPA2) and ion channel complexes (KCNJ16, KCNB1), making them good candidates as biomarkers of PTB. Conclusions The identification of this DE gene pattern will help with the development of a multi-gene disease classifier. These markers were generated in an admixed South American population in which PTB has a high incidence. Since the genetic background may differentially impact different populations, it is necessary to include populations such as those from South America and Africa, which are usually excluded from high-throughput approaches. These classifiers should be compared to those in other populations to obtain a global landscape of PTB. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12920-019-0498-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Pereyra
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. General Flores 2125, C.P, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Claudio Sosa
- Clínica Ginecotologica "C", Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Bvar. General Artigas 1590, C:P.11600, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Bernardo Bertoni
- Departamento de Genética, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. General Flores 2125, C.P, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rossana Sapiro
- Departamento de Histología y Embriología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Av. General Flores 2125, C.P, 11800, Montevideo, Uruguay.
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15
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Wu Y, Lin X, Lim IY, Chen L, Teh AL, MacIsaac JL, Tan KH, Kobor MS, Chong YS, Gluckman PD, Karnani N. Analysis of two birth tissues provides new insights into the epigenetic landscape of neonates born preterm. Clin Epigenetics 2019; 11:26. [PMID: 30744680 PMCID: PMC6371604 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-018-0599-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Preterm birth (PTB), defined as child birth before completion of 37 weeks of gestation, is a major challenge in perinatal health care and can bear long-term medical and financial burden. Over a million children die each year due to PTB complications, and those who survive can face developmental delays. Unfortunately, our understanding of the molecular pathways associated with PTB remains limited. There is a growing body of evidence suggesting the role of DNA methylation (DNAm) in mediating the effects of PTB on future health outcomes. Thus, epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS), where DNAm sites are examined for associations with PTB, can help shed light on the biological mechanisms linking the two. Results In an Asian cohort of 1019 infants (68 preterm, 951 full term), we examined and compared the associations between PTB and genome-wide DNAm profiles using both cord tissue (n = 1019) and cord blood (n = 332) samples on Infinium HumanMethylation450 arrays. PTB was significantly associated (P < 5.8e−7) with DNAm at 296 CpGs (209 genes) in the cord blood. Over 95% of these CpGs were replicated in other PTB/gestational age EWAS conducted in (cord) blood. This replication was apparent even across populations of different ethnic origin (Asians, Caucasians, and African Americans). More than a third of these 296 CpGs were replicated in at least 4 independent studies, thereby identifying a robust set of PTB-linked epigenetic signatures in cord blood. Interrogation of cord tissue in addition to cord blood provided novel insights into the epigenetic status of the neonates born preterm. Overall, 994 CpGs (608 genes, P < 3.7e−7) associated with PTB in cord tissue, of which only 10 of these CpGs were identified in the analysis using cord blood. Genes from cord tissue showed enrichment of molecular pathways related to fetal growth and development, while those from cord blood showed enrichment of immune response pathways. A substantial number of PTB-associated CpGs from both the birth tissues were also associated with gestational age. Conclusions Our findings provide insights into the epigenetic landscape of neonates born preterm, and that its status is captured more comprehensively by interrogation of more than one neonatal tissue in tandem. Both these neonatal tissues are clinically relevant in their unique ways and require careful consideration in identification of biomarkers related to PTB and gestational age. Trial registration This birth cohort is a prospective observational study designed to study the developmental origins of health and disease, and was retrospectively registered on 1 July 2010 under the identifier NCT01174875. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13148-018-0599-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghui Wu
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117609, Singapore
| | - Xinyi Lin
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117609, Singapore.,Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ives Yubin Lim
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117609, Singapore
| | - Li Chen
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117609, Singapore
| | - Ai Ling Teh
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117609, Singapore
| | - Julia L MacIsaac
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Kok Hian Tan
- KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Michael S Kobor
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Child and Family Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Yap Seng Chong
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117609, Singapore.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Peter D Gluckman
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117609, Singapore.,Centre for Human Evolution, Adaptation and Disease, Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Neerja Karnani
- Singapore Institute for Clinical Sciences, A*STAR, 30 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117609, Singapore. .,Department of Biochemistry, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
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16
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Yi X, Liu H, Ou Y, Liu M, Zhu L, Chen H, Zhang J. Dominant inflammatory profile of the placenta in a preterm labor mouse model. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2019; 33:1927-1933. [PMID: 30328754 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2018.1533949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Despite a growing association between inflammation and preterm labor, the underlying mechanisms explaining the development of preterm labor after infection are still poorly understood. Here, we use RNA-sequencing to characterize the transcriptome changes of placenta tissue in a preterm labor mouse model.Materials and methods: On day 15.5 of gestation, BALB/c mice received intrauterine injection of LPS to mimic preterm labor. A comprehensive catalog of genes was obtained using RNA-sequences and followed by bioinformatics analysis. The NOD-like receptor signaling pathway (Nod2, Cxcl1, Cxcl2, and IL-1β) and two downregulated genes (Ctsg and Snca) were selected for validating the results using qPCR analysis.Results: We identified 155 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 84 biological processes and 45 pathways in the placenta using RNA-seq. Fifty-four biological processes could be categorized as immune-related processes and 33 pathways were mainly related to immune disease and infections. All genes were consistent between the RNA-seq and qPCR analyses.Conclusions: The dominant role for inflammatory biological processes and pathways in placenta can lead to preterm labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaochun Yi
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huixiang Liu
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhua Ou
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Meilan Liu
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Liqiong Zhu
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Hui Chen
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianping Zhang
- Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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17
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Vora NL, Parker JS, Mieckowski PA, Smeester L, Fry RC, Boggess KA. RNA-Sequencing of Umbilical Cord Blood to Investigate Spontaneous Preterm Birth: A Pilot Study. AJP Rep 2019; 9:e60-e66. [PMID: 30854245 PMCID: PMC6406026 DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1678717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To analyze the transcriptomic gene expression of umbilical cord blood leukocytes using RNA-sequencing from preterm birth (PTB) and term birth (TB). Study Design Eight women with spontaneous PTB (sPTB) and eight women with unlabored TB were enrolled prospectively. The sPTB and TB cohorts were matched for maternal age, race, mode of delivery, and fetal sex. Cord blood RNA was extracted and a globin depletion protocol was applied, then sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq 4000. Raw read counts were analyzed with DESeq2 to test for gene expression differences between sPTB and TB. Results 148 genes had significant differential expression ( q < 0.01). Cell cycle/metabolism gene expression was significantly higher and immune/inflammatory signaling gene expression significantly lower in the sPTB cohort compared with term. In African American (AA) infants, 18 genes specific to cell signaling, neutrophil activity, and major histocompatibility complex type 1 had lower expression in preterm compared with term cohort; the opposite pattern was seen in non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Conclusion Compared with term, preterm fetuses have higher cell cycle/metabolism gene expression, suggesting metabolic focus on growth and development. Immune function gene expression in this pilot study is lower in the sPTB group compared with term and differs in AA compared with NHW infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neeta L Vora
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Joel S Parker
- Department of Genetics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Piotr A Mieckowski
- Department of Genetics, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Lisa Smeester
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Rebecca C Fry
- Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Kim A Boggess
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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18
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Dunn-Fletcher CE, Muglia LM, Pavlicev M, Wolf G, Sun MA, Hu YC, Huffman E, Tumukuntala S, Thiele K, Mukherjee A, Zoubovsky S, Zhang X, Swaggart KA, Lamm KYB, Jones H, Macfarlan TS, Muglia LJ. Anthropoid primate-specific retroviral element THE1B controls expression of CRH in placenta and alters gestation length. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2006337. [PMID: 30231016 PMCID: PMC6166974 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Pregnancy and parturition are intricately regulated to ensure successful reproductive outcomes. However, the factors that control gestational length in humans and other anthropoid primates remain poorly defined. Here, we show the endogenous retroviral long terminal repeat transposon-like human element 1B (THE1B) selectively controls placental expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) that, in turn, influences gestational length and birth timing. Placental expression of CRH and subsequently prolonged gestational length were found in two independent strains of transgenic mice carrying a 180-kb human bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) DNA that contained the full length of CRH and extended flanking regions, including THE1B. Restricted deletion of THE1B silenced placental CRH expression and normalized birth timing in these transgenic lines. Furthermore, we revealed an interaction at the 5′ insertion site of THE1B with distal-less homeobox 3 (DLX3), a transcription factor expressed in placenta. Together, these findings suggest that retroviral insertion of THE1B into the anthropoid primate genome may have initiated expression of CRH in placental syncytiotrophoblasts via DLX3 and that this placental CRH is sufficient to alter the timing of birth. The proper timing of delivery is critical during pregnancy; if too early or too late, the baby will be at risk of serious health problems and even death. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) is a protein that can be detected in maternal blood, and its concentration correlates with the timing of birth. In humans and other anthropoid primates, CRH is made by the placenta, whereas in other mammals, it is produced in a specialized region of the brain. To understand the regulation and evolution of this key protein, we inserted the human CRH gene and nearby regions into the mouse genome, which resulted in human CRH expression in the mouse placenta. Mouse litters that make CRH in their placentas are born later than control mice, showing that CRH can directly affect birth timing. Using our mouse model, we then selectively deleted a remnant of an ancient retrovirus that is normally found in the DNA of anthropoid primates and demonstrated that this specific region controls expression of CRH in the placenta. Deletion of this region also restored normal birth timing in the mice by eliminating CRH production from the placenta. We propose that retroviral regulation of CRH in the placenta may be a mechanism of controlling birth timing in humans and other anthropoid primates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin E. Dunn-Fletcher
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CED); (LJM)
| | - Lisa M. Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Mihaela Pavlicev
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Gernot Wolf
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ming-An Sun
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Yueh-Chiang Hu
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Huffman
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Shivani Tumukuntala
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Katri Thiele
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Amrita Mukherjee
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Sandra Zoubovsky
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Xuzhe Zhang
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kayleigh A. Swaggart
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Katherine Y. Bezold Lamm
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Helen Jones
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Surgery, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Todd S. Macfarlan
- The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, The National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Louis J. Muglia
- Division of Human Genetics, Center for Prevention of Preterm Birth, Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CED); (LJM)
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